Fastening for watch-dials.



' No. 7II,833. Patented Oct. 2|, I902. W. W. DICKEBSON.

FASTENING FOR WATCH OIALS.

(Application filed Jan. 8, 1902.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES I I llVVENTpH W I MW u By ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WV. DIOKERSON, OF WVILSON, KANSAS.

FASTENING FOR WATCH-DIALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 71 1,833, dated October 21, 1902.

Application filed January 8, 1902. Serial No. 88,827. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM W. DIOKER- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vilson, in the county of Ellsworth and State of Kansas, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Fastenings for \Vatch-Dials, of which the followingis a specification.

It has long been the practice to secure the dial-plates of watches by means of pins inserted laterally and engaging feet or pillars attached to the dials; but the pins were so inserted and arranged that they were liable to slip out of their sockets, and thus stop the watchwork. Later dials were fastened by screws whose points bore against the dial feet or pillars, and thus pressed them sidewise, whereby the enamel of the dials was strained and cracked in consequence of the local leverage and strain. Further, when the dial-feet gave way from pressure, the same being made of soft copper, the screws or pins would be free to work out, which they were liable to do from the eifect of jarring to which watches are subjected, and the pressure being thus relieved the dial would come loose. Various later attempts have been made to provide a secure fastening for dial-plates, and screws and dial-feet have been so constructed and combined as to attain this result in a degree; but the object has still not been completely attained. I have devised an improvement in this line whereby the difiicnlties attending the usual construction and arrangement of dial-plate fastenings are avoided and certain advantages are attained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a dial-plate provided with feet or pillars according to my invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the pillarplate or movement-plate. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my preferred locking device. Fig. 4.- is an enlarged cross-section showing a dial-plate and locking device arranged according to my invention. Fig. 5 is a detail section showing a portion of the pillar-plate and the locking device with its head arranged flush therewith. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the pillar-plate with dial-locking device inserted in place. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the dial-plate, pillar-plate, and case. Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the dial-plate,

pillar-plate, case, and a locking device of a modified form.

I will first describe the invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive. The dialplate A is provided with feet o r,pil1ars a, having transverse perforations. As shown in Fig. 4, these feet (t pass down into openings provided in the pillar-plate or movementplate B. The locking device shown in Fig. 3 has a cylindrical body and an alined extension -pin 0, which is preferably tapered, as shown. The body of the device is further provided with a lateral arm 0', and the head is notched to receive a screw-driver or other tool for rotating it. Since this locking device 0 is inserted in place as shown in Figs. &, 5, and 6, the extensions-pin 0 passes not only through the pillar a, but into the opposite wall or side of the pillar-plate, so that said pin is not liable to be broken off by any strain to which it may be subjected. Further, by reason of its tapered form it tends to draw the foot to inward, so as to secure the dial plate A more firmly. The cylindrical body of the locking device 0 enters a socket of corresponding form, and the inner end of the same abuts the inner end of the socket 2), formed in the pillar-plate B. The notched head of the device 0 is flush with the periphery of the pillar-plate B, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5that is to say, it is fiush with the lower rabbeted portion of such periphery, so that when the dial-plate and pillar-plate are placed in the case D, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the head of the screw will abut or come in contact with the annular shoulder 61 of case D,whereby the locking device will be held securely in place without danger of becoming loose or detached by jarring or otherwise. In fact, the locking device 0 cannot be detached except by first removing the pillar-plate B from the case D. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the opening 1), in which the locking device 0 is inserted, is formed partly in the upper wider portion of the pillar-plate.

In inserting the locking device 0 the arm 0 is turned downward, so as to pass through the slot 1), (see Figs. at and 5,) and the device is then rotated one-quarter way around,whereby said arm is carried into the lateral socket I)", (see Fig. 6,) which is provided in the under side of the pillar-plate. Then the arm necessary to rotate the device a quarter-way around, and the lateral arm or lug 0 being thus accessible in the slot 19 in the pillar-plate B leverage may be easily applied to said arm for forcing the device 0 laterally or outward.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8 the body of the locking device 0 is screw-threaded,

and the socket in the pillar-plate B, in which it is inserted, is similarly screw-threaded, so that thedevice O is screwed in and out in inserting and removing it, as will be readily understood.

By myimproved fastening the dial-plate is secured firmly in place, so that it is not liable to become loose and to fall against the hands of the watch. Also there is no strain whatever on the feet or pillars, so that the enamel of the dial is not liable to be cracked. Further, the locking device is easilyinserted and as easily removed and when in place is locked by the portion of the watchcase surrounding the pillar-plate.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination,with the dial-plate having a perforated. foot, and a pillar-plate having a radial socket which is alined with the perforation in said foot and provided with a slot-opening also at the periphery of the pillar-plate, and the locking device having a lateral lug which is adapted to move into said slot as the said device is inserted, as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a dial-plate having a perforated foot, and a pillar-plate having a radial socket alined with the transverse perforation of said foot and a lateral socket communicating with the radial one, of a looking device, having a cylindrical body, an alined extension-pin, and. a lateral arm or lug which is adapted to fit in the lateral socket provided in the pillar-plate, as shown and described.

3. The combination,with the dial-plate having a perforated foot and a pillar-plate provided with a radial socket,which is alined with the perforation in said foot, and with a slot b which communicates radially with the socket,

of'a locking device adapted for insertion in said socket and provided with a lateral arm or lug adapted to pass through the said slot, as and for the purpose specified.

WILLIAM DIOKERSON.

Witnesses:

JEROME W. BRIGGS, S. B. SHORTRIDGE. 

